Lingerie-clasp.



G. F. PERRY. LINGERIE CLASP.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JULY 30, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

s E s s E N. W W

ATTO R N EY rip.

snonen'rfrnaar, or raovronncn, nnonnistnnn, ASSIGNOR TO FORD-PERRY 00.,

\ or raovmsncs, anons ISLAND, A CORPORATION or RHODE ISLAND.

LINGERIE-GLASP.'

mea er citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and 'State of Rhode Island, have-invented a new useful Lingerie-Clasp, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps for lingerie, and is designed to hold together the shoulder straps of underclothing against dlisplacement either of the straps or'of the c asp. l

In accordance with the present invention a strip of suitable material is bent upon itself a short distance to one side of its mid point to form a short or close bend, and the two parts are broughtinto close relation and about into parallelism, but spaced apart sufliciently for the passage of the shoulder straps. The free ends of the strip are bent one toward the other, and toward the other end of the clasp to form interlocking terminals with one inside of the other, so that when the two sides of the clasp are brought together, the legs of the clasp having a normal tendency to separate, one of the curved ends will snap over and receive the other, thereby locking the two sides of the loop in the closed position. The two locking extremities ofthe clasp are similar in configuration, and neither is long enough to extend beyond the plane of the other side of the clasp. v

The longer leg of the clasp is bent about midway of its length toward the other leg of the clasp, and this'bent portion serves as a clamp and takes up the extra length of the corresponding leg of the clasp, so that it is such leg of-the claspv that has the terminal part snapping inside of the terminal part of the other leg of the clasp.

When the attachment is applied to shoulder straps it is the intermediate bent portion of the one leg of the clasp which en- 415 gages the straps against the other leg of the clasp and thereclamps them so that the clasp is efi'ectively locked against movement along the shoulder straps-or other displacement with relation thereto, and the shouli der straps are held firmly together against displacement one with relation to the other.

The invention will be best understood from a considerationof the following detailed. description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part Specification of Letters ratent.

of this specification, 'with the further un}: derstanding that while the drawings show, a practical form of the invention, the latter Patented Feb. 23 1915. Application filed July so, 1914. Serial No. 854,163. I

is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, butlhay be changed and modified so long as such departure from the'salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp in the open position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of-the clasp in the closed position. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the clasp in the closed position showing its application to shoulder straps of undergarments, the straps being indicated in section. 4

The clasp comprises a single strip 1 of metal, this strip being long and narrow and of appropriate gage, and maybe made of any suitable metal ranging from the precious metals to such compositions as brass,

- changes and modifications mark no material and in the latter case the clasps are usually nickel plated. The strip 1 is bent near its middle as shown at 2 to form two legs 3, 4, the leg 4 including a longer strip of metal than the leg 3, but at a point about midway of the length of the leg 4 it is provided with a bend 5 of approximately inverted V form' with the apex rounded. This bend 5 is of a length to closely approach, but need not touch the inner face of the leg 3, and is of the full width of the leg 4. p

The free extremity of the leg 3 is formed into a return bend 6 and the freeextremity other leg and toward the intermediate bend 2.

- Although the length of metal in the leg 4 is greater than that in the leg 3, this extra length of metal is taken up by the benda5 and the relationof the parts is such that the end 7 will snap behind the end 6 to lock therein after the manner of a latch or snap, the return bends 6 and 7 conforming one to the other in general shape. The bend 7 may be somewhat less extensive than the bend'6,bujs"t he latter is short enough, so as not to project beyond the face of the leg 4 when snapped over the matching end 7 When the clasp is to be applied, it is open as in Fig. 2, and may then readily receive shoulder straps 8, 9, of undergarments, atter which the clasp is closed together, as shown in Fig. 4, with the apex of the bend 5 clamping the straps 8 and 9 together and against the inner face of the leg 3. This clamping 4 action is found in practice to be ample to prevent displacement of the clasp lengthwise of the shoulder straps, and when on the shoulder straps the clasp does not turn, the relatively Wide clamping bend 5 overcoming any tendency of the clasp to turn. Moreover, the clasp holds the shoulder straps firmly together and prevents them from dis placement one relative to the other.

By providing the V-shaped bend on that leg of the clasp which has its terminal bend snapping within the terminal bend of the other leg, I am enabled to impart resiliency to the leg, which would not be the case if the V-shaped bend were applied to the other leg of the clasp. It is obvious that when the terminal bend 7 of the legwhich carries the V-shaped bend snaps within the terminal bend 6, it yields slightly longitudinally, this longitudinal yield being provided for by the .V-shaped bendJ Then as soon as the terminal bend is at rest, the V-shaped bend allows the leg to extend itself. In other words, the snap of the two bends is increased by this arrangement of the parts.

What is claimed is Alingerie clasp comprising an elongated strip of metal bent upon itself to form two opposing legs each terminating at the free end in a return bend directed toward the intermediate bend and toward each other, with one terminal bend shaped to snap over the other and hold the clasp in the closed position, neither bend extending beyond the plane of the other side of the clasp, that leg of the clasp having the terminal bend snapping within the other being provided intermediate of its length with an approximately V-shaped bend of the full width of the leg and with its apex directed toward and closely approaching but not touching the other leg of the clasp.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. PERRY.

Witnesses:

FRED A. O'rIs, J. PARKER Fonn. 

